Pliers



March 13, 1928. l 662 108 c. P..FAY

PLIERS Filed Apri-l 5. 1926 QM/l IN VEN TOR.

A TTORNEYS.

Patented Mar. 13, 1928.

ea'rsn'r f CHARLES P. FAY, F SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS.

PLIERS.

Application lled April 1926. Serial No. 99,852.

rihis invention relates to improvements in hand tools ol' the plier type and, particularly, to tools ot this class wherein a powertul lcverageis desired to enable the jaws to he forced together under great pressure for the cutting or other function.

ihe invention is shown as embodied `in cutting pliers but the improvements, obviously, are adapted to other tools of a genen ally analogous nature, whether the jaws are used tor cutting or other purposes.v

object otl the invention is to provide a eenerally improved tool ot the general described,l embodying provisions for compound leverage to move the jaws to- `ei'ethcr and stabilizing connections ybetween the j the handles or operating levers.

Another object ol the invention is to provide, in a tool of the class described, working lever made up ot pairs of spaced plates and carrying the jaws olf the tool, together with a common ulcruin bar which is received between the pairs of plates and yto which hase pa'. s of plates are separately pivoted at laterally spaced points, characterized in Uff llie invention will be disclosed with reterence to the illustrative embodiment of it shown in the accompanying drawings, in which n Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of cutting pliers embodyingthe invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational View thereof;

l? ig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of-Fig. i2;`

Figs. e and 5 are enlarged fragmentary sectional views taken on the lines 4*4: and 5&5, respectively, of Figl; and

avv-carrying levers and the Aulcrum ot that the pairs olf' plates are tied together l .er object of the invention is to pro-r ll1 igs. 6 and 7 are 'fragmentary front and side elevational views of one of the operating levers or handles.

teterring to these drawings; the tool cornprises a pair or' operating levers 10, the major portion oit' which constitute handles, and these levers are pivotally connected together by a. common pivot 11 and are also pivotally connected at 12 to the lower ends of a pair of working levers 13. The latter rare separately pivoted at 14e at laterallyr spaced points to a common ulcruin bar 15. The working leversl carry jaws 16 of any suitable type, herein shown as cutters.

A novel feature of the present invention consists in the particular construction of the working levers 13. Each of these levers comprises a pair of relatively thin plates 17 and the plates ot each pairare disposed on opposite sides of the fulcrum bar 15 and in contiguous relation therewith. The fulcruin bar 15 is relatively wide and it extends from the outeredges of one pair .of plates 17 completely across `said plates, `across the intervening space between the pairsot plates, and completely across the other pair of plates 17, terminating at their outer edges. There is, thus, a. relatively large and extensive area of Contact between the plates and bar, which assures stillness and rigidity to the tool, notwithstanding that the working levers are made up ot' relatively thin plates.

Each lever is shouldered down adjacent the pivotal connection 11 to torni a substan tially circular ear 1S of a thickness equal to that o the fulcruin bar.

and lit in the recesses formed by the should ering down of lever 10, being disposed on opposite sides of ear 18- The combined thickness of a pair ot plates 17 and the intervening tulcrum bar is approximately equal to the 'thickness ot lever 1G, as will be.

seen from Fig. 2.

l'lhe levers 10 are connected by a special pivotal connection, which. while not in itself new, lends itself admirably toone of the purposes of lthis invention, which is to secure` a connection of one of the stabilizing ineinbers-to the pivot- 11 at a point centrally be` The lower ends oi' plates 11 are substantially semi-circular llO spreading movement of levers and also,

of course, the outward spreading movement of the working levers 13. The shoulders 22 below pivot pin 11 are not intended to abut under any normal conditions,0ther meansto be later described, being provided l'onthe purpose of limiting the movement of the levers 10 and 13 in the other direction.

The levers 10 are recessed centrally ,through their shoulders 21, as shown at 23,

for the purpose of providing clearance for the stabilizing member 19 at all times; ltxcept for this recess 23, which is made as small yas possible, each rlever has a full bears ying contact with,` pin `11. The bearing is as wide as the lever and its arcuate extent isas great as possible. If the levers were connected by a half joint, the arcuate extent ofthe bearing would be increased but at the sacrifice of its longitudinal extent which is far lmore important because, during the cutting operation (when allthe work is being done), the two leversA press yagainst the pivot with the surfaces 20. If the. bearing were extended to encompass the side of the pivot opposite from surface 20, this extended portion would be idle during the cutting opera tion. lVith the present arrangement the maximum bearingarea during the working operation is secured (for a given width of lever and a given diameter of the pivot and yet the construction allows the Stabi izing member 19 to be connected to the pivot pin centrally between its ends with hardly any substantial sacrifice of bearing surface.

ln order to hold the levers trom displacement on the pivot pin 11, circular heads 24 are provided, which are mounted one on each end of the pin and held in place by upsetting the ends of the pin as best shown in Fig 5 the `heads 21 have inturned marginal flanges 25, which tit into pairs of arcuate grooves 26 (Figs. Gand 7) formed in the outer facesof the-levers 10. Considering'the front face of the two levers 10,

the groove 26 formed in leach is concentric with the pivot pin andthe two grooves cooperate fto forni portions of a circular trackway to receive the jiange 25 on a head 24. The engagement of these anges 25 in grooves 26= holds the levers 10 from endwise and lateral displacement relatively to` the pivot. This engagement is adequate for the purpose because there is at no time any heavy strain imposed upon the parts tending to displace them on or from the pivot pin. At the same time, the construction presents an exceptionall neat and nished appearance and the outer 'aces of heads 24 do not project beyond the outer faces of plates 17.

The stabilizing member 19, which projects toward fulcrum bar 15, is slidably engaged with a second stabilizing member 27, which is fixed to the'bottom face of the fulcrum bar and extends toward pivot pin 11, As shown, member 27 is a cylindrical piece bored out to slidably receive member 19. f Loosely mount ed on the latter is a short cylindrical member 28 having a iange 29 which functions as a seat for a spring C50. The latter encompasses` the telescopically engaged members 19 and 27 and lacts between flange 29 and fulcrum bar 15 to hold the operating and working levers in spread apart relation. The lower face of member 29 overlaps a portion of each lever l() and consequently spring 30 acts to force these portions of levers 10 downwardly until the described shoulders 21 abut. The upper end face of member 28 is adapted to engage the lower end of member 27 as a positive and accurate sto to limitthe inward movement of the working levers and prevent the cutters 16 from being damaged.

The function ofthe stabilizing members 19 and 27 is well understood. They insure, by their action, that a common center line drawn through the centers of pivots 1l will at all times lie at exactly right angles to a A line drawn from a point equidistant between the lower ends of the levers 1() and their common fuleruin point 11. stabilizing members of various types have been used before to accomplish the same function but they have been applied outside the working levers, rather than inside and between the two parts of the same as here shown. Also, they have been connected to the ends ol the pivot, corresponding to ll, rather than ccntrally with respect to the saine. By the present construction the stabilizing nnfnibers and the return spring are kept out ol the way and so located that one cannot possibly pinch the fingers between the coacting stops 27 and 28er have parts ofthe flesh caught and pinched between convolutions of the spring 30.` Moreover, afmuch ncater and more attractive article results.

The cutters 16 "are carried `one by each working lever 13. Each cutter overlies the upper edge of each plate 17 and has depending ianges 32,' whieh'lie one outside each plate and bold the plates against outward spreading, thereby cooperating with the fulcruni bar andthe connections 12 with ears 18 to stiilen the working levers and make them extraordinarily rigid. Each plate 17 has a groove 33 formed in its inner face parallel with the edge engaged by cutter 16. Thetwo grooves 33 in each pair of plates 17 afford a. slideway to receive the side flanges 34 oi a slide 35, which slidably fits betweeneach pair of plates and extends upwardly toward, but not quite'to, the lower tace ot cutter 16. A stud tired in slide 35 projects through a. hole in cutter 16 and the cutter is held to the slide by a screw 37 the head oi which is counter-sunk intothe cut-y ter 16 and the shanl; of which is threaded into the slide ly tightening the screw 3T, the slide is drawn up to cause its flanges 3f. to tightly press against the upper edges ot grooves and at the same time' the cutter 1G is drawn tightly down against the upper edges of plates 1T.` Each platel?, on its inner surface and above groove 33, provided with a portion 2384 of a screw thread. lfhe two portions 38 on the inner walls of a mating pair oit plates 17, are adapted te receive a set screw 39 of as large a diameter as is compatible with the roorn availableV for thepurpose.` rEhe set screws 39 not only serve as a convenient means for adjusting the cutters, when screwsB'T are loosened, but they also act as solid abutnients to take the shock ot the Cutting operation and relieve the slides 35 and screws 37 from inuch of the strainfto which they -would otherwise be subjected.

The liulcruni bar 15 has still another useful purpose. As shown in Fig. 4i, the cen tral portion of this bar, which underlies 16, is grooved on opposite sides, as at 40. These two grooves 40 start at points in the side faces of the bar a little more than half way up and converge upwardly until they nieet in a thin line ot intersection near the upper edge or the bar. tional shape of the bar at its uppergportion is therefore a wedge. This wedge-like part functions as a detlector calculated to deflect a. wire, when inserted between the cut-ters 1G, either to one side or the other in the event that the wire is inserted so far to strilre the bar 15. It the end of the wire touched the top edge of bar 15 and this edge were tlat, then when the Wire was cut it would tend to throw the cutters y16 upwardly. As the cutters 16 move together to cut the wire, their cutting edges have a downward movement toward bar 15. Consequently, if the end of the wire abuts this bar betere itis cut, the bar resists further downward movement of the wire during the cutting operation and there will be an upward torce exerted on the cutting edges,

which is undersired in any event and which is liable, under certain conditions, to damage the cutters. Also, the groovesflO, in conjunction with the spaces between the plates ci one pair and those of'another,perniit a wire passed in a fairly straight course therebetween, whereby the wire may he cut at or ear the centers of the cutters rather The central cross sec` and all the plates are exact counterparts.

The levers lOare likewise exactly alike and adapted tor manufacture by drop forging or die casting. The remaining parts are simple and easily produced and as readily assembled. Aside from the manufacturing advantages, a tool is provided which makes a real appeal on account of its attractive appearance and the user gets really goed and serviceable tool as well. The working levers and jaws are extremely rigid and strong on account of their composite construction and the adequate nianner inw-hich `tee component parts cooperate to ait-ord a thoroughly braced structure, well calculated to resist the strains of severe service to which a tool of this character is oftentimes subjected.

The invention has been disclosed herein, in an embodiment at present preferred, for illustrative purposes but the scope of the invention is detin'ed by the appended claims rat ier than by the foregoing description.

What l claini is:

l. ln a tool of the class described, apair of operating levers pivotally connected to turn upon a. common ulcruin,y a. pivot pin forming said iulcruin, a pair of spaced plates pivotally connected to each operating lever and disposed on opposite sides et the saine, a ulcruni bar disposed between said pairs of plates and extending across vfrom the plates of one pair to those of the other with its side faces contiguous with the inner faces of'said plates, each pair of plates `being separately pivoted to said bar at laterally spaced points intermediate the ends ofthe plates, slidably engaged stabilizing ineinbers disposed in the space between said pairs of plates and between said bar andr pivot and lined one to said bar and one to said pivot, and a jaw carried by each pair of plates.

2. In a. tool of the class described, a pair ot operating levers pivotally connected to turn upon a common ulcruin, a pivot pin formingl said fulcruin, a. pair of spaced plates pivotally connected to each operating lever and dis`` posed on opposite sides of the same, a tulcrum bar disposed between said pairs ot plates and extending across from the plates of one pair to those oic the other with its side faces contiguous with the inner faces ot said plates, each pair of plates being separately.

pivoted to said bar at laterally spaced points intermediate the ends of the plates, slidably engaged stabilizing members disposed in the spaeebetween said pairs of plates and betill tween said bar and pivot and, fixed one` to said bar and one to said pivot, a spring encompassing said members and acting between said bar and operating levers with a tendency to spread the latter apart, and a jaw carred by each pair of plates.

3. In a. tool of the class described, a pair oit operating levers pivotallyf connected to turn upon a common fulcrum, a pivot pin forming f said fuit-rum, a pair ot' spaced plates piroially connected to each operating lever and di,-; posed on opposite sides ot' the saine, a 'l'ul- Crum bar disposed between said pairs ot plates andextending across from the plates of one pair to those of the other with its side faces contiguous with the inner faces of said plates, each pair ot' plates being separately7 pivoted to said bar at. laterall7 spaced points intermediate the ends ol the plates, telescopically engaged, stabilizing members one fixed to said pivot centrally between its ends and onelixed to said tutt-ruin bar. a stop mounted on one ol' said members aad adapted to engage the other to limit thil movement ot' Said pairs of plates towara'l each other when the operating levers are pressed together, and a jaw carried b v each pair of plates.

4. In a tool of the class described. a pair of operating levers pivotally connected ylo turn upon a. common tulcruin, a pivot pin forming said fulcrum, a pair of spaced plates pivotally connected to each operatingr lever and disposed on opposite sides ot the same, a fulcrlun. bar disposed between said pairs of plates. and extendingacross from the plates of one pair to those of the other with its side faces contiguous with the inner faces of said plates, each pair of plates being separately, pivoted to said bar at laterally spaced points intermediate the ends of the plates, telescopically engaged stabilizing members, one .lined to said pivot centrallyv between its endsand one fixed to said tulcrum bar, a stop mounted on one. ot said members and adapted to engage the other to limit the movement ot said pairs ot plates toward each other when the operating` levers are pressed together, said stop having a spring seat, a spring coiled around said telescopically engaged members and actingybetween said seat and bar to normallivv maintain the operating levers in spread apart relation, and a jaw carried by each pair ot plates.

5. In a tool of the class described, a pair of operating levers pivotally connected to turn upon a common fulcruin, a pivot pin forming said fulcrum, a pair ot working levers pivotally connected to said operating` levers, each of said working levers having an opening bounded by spacedparallel walls,

a tulcruni bar having its endsdisposed in said openings and slidably engaged with said walls and spanning the .space between said working levers, said working levers being separately pivoted at points intcrmediate their ends to said tulcrnni bar all laterally spaced points, and a cutting jar:

carried by each working lever. said ful-` cruin bar in that portion adjacent the cutting edges ol' said jaw having a wedge shaped section forming a dellector tor the end of a wire when passed between said edges. i

(5. In a tool ot the class described, a pair` the plates of one pair to those of the other with its side faces contiguous with the inner faces ol said plates, each pair of plates being` separately pivoted to said bar at laterally spaced points intermediate the ends of the plates, the plates of each pair having liar parallel jaw receiving edges, each plate having in its inner surface a groove parallel to its jaw receiving edge and a portion of a screw thread the axis 1ot' which is disposed between said groove and edge and in parallel relation therewith, a-jaw tor each pair of plates slidably mounted on said edges, a slide mounted between each pair of plates and having flanges engaged in said grooves, adjustable means connecting cach jaw to its slide and adapted to draw the jai' against said edges and the langes ol. said slide against certain of the walls of said grooves` and screws, one mounted in the threaded portions of each pair ot plates to engage the outer end of the slide, said screws serving as abutments to take the shocks imposed onthe cutters.

In testimony whereof I have atlixed my signature.

CHARLES P. FAY. 

